silver foxWhat’s even more remarkable is the Lancia Thema, Fiat Croma and the Saab 9000 shared a jointly developed body and floor pan, the Saab had better side impact protection but visually all very similar bodies.
Saab 9000s are still out and about in regular use, now play spot the Fiat or Lancia alternative, amazing the difference in build quality. :rolleyes:
silver foxThe Victor MK1 would melt in the rain, it was possibly the worst bodied car ever, only matched by the early Datsuns, mind you the next Victor the FB, wasn’t exactly resistant to the tin worm, if you saw a used one in apparently good condition, the odds were very high that the body was composed of mainly fibreglass and filler.
silver foxThe Victor MK1 would melt in the rain, it was possibly the worst bodied car ever, only matched by the early Datsuns, mind you the next Victor the FB, wasn’t exactly resistant to the tin worm, if you saw a used one in apparently good condition, the odds were very high that the body was composed of mainly fibreglass and filler.
silver foxsilver fox. I have seen that film!! but never read the book. You can probably see what I mean, when I say, I have never read any REAL reports of the work the ASR lads carried out. What a staggering amount of rescues these men carried out, in, sometimes terrible conditions, they fought the War on two fronts, firstly the Sea, and there was always the possibility of being straffed by enemy aircraft flying to and from the British coast.
Were their any “Special medals” awarded to the crews of these vessels for their valiant services?.
I would bet my last tanner that some bod could tell you just about every detail of the downed aircraft in the sea, but can they say the same of what boat saved what crews?.
As Moggy states, we tend to remember the aircraft and save them for posterity’s sake, but the “Little boats” are oft forgotten.
Many thanks for your input on this, to me, what is a very interesting subject.
Jim.
Lincoln ,7
The film was an over dramatised (false) version of the book, the book’s reference to the ASR launches and the work they did is an amalgam of real episodes, a friend of my Dads now sadly both long gone, served on the ASR launches commanding one before the end of the war.
When he did speak of the work they did, he mainly stressed just how much their work was rescue and their main defence was the sheer speed of the launches.
As someone mentioned previously they picked up downed air crew whatever their nationality, remember the thinking was a German pilot in captivity wasn’t going to fly against the UK, so picking them up rather than letting their own rescue services find them was still “good business” and leaving them to the mercy of the sea was not an option.
silver foxsilver fox. I have seen that film!! but never read the book. You can probably see what I mean, when I say, I have never read any REAL reports of the work the ASR lads carried out. What a staggering amount of rescues these men carried out, in, sometimes terrible conditions, they fought the War on two fronts, firstly the Sea, and there was always the possibility of being straffed by enemy aircraft flying to and from the British coast.
Were their any “Special medals” awarded to the crews of these vessels for their valiant services?.
I would bet my last tanner that some bod could tell you just about every detail of the downed aircraft in the sea, but can they say the same of what boat saved what crews?.
As Moggy states, we tend to remember the aircraft and save them for posterity’s sake, but the “Little boats” are oft forgotten.
Many thanks for your input on this, to me, what is a very interesting subject.
Jim.
Lincoln ,7
The film was an over dramatised (false) version of the book, the book’s reference to the ASR launches and the work they did is an amalgam of real episodes, a friend of my Dads now sadly both long gone, served on the ASR launches commanding one before the end of the war.
When he did speak of the work they did, he mainly stressed just how much their work was rescue and their main defence was the sheer speed of the launches.
As someone mentioned previously they picked up downed air crew whatever their nationality, remember the thinking was a German pilot in captivity wasn’t going to fly against the UK, so picking them up rather than letting their own rescue services find them was still “good business” and leaving them to the mercy of the sea was not an option.
silver foxI am still trying to find out if there is any book/s around about the escapades of the ASR lads and their boats.
Didn’t they also pick up downed German pilots?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
A book to try, The Sea Shall Not Have Them, a fictional story but based very much on the work of the ASR.
During WW2 the ASR service rescued 13,269 lives from the sea, of these 8,604 were downed air crew.
One of the biggest “fans”was Lieutenant-General Ira C Eaker (Commander of 8th US Air Force in Britain)
His comment was that the ASR were a major part of keeping up the morale of US aircrews who knew that those boats were out there attempting to rescue all and any downed aircrews, before the Americans had a rescue service in place the ASR had already picked up 600 US Air Force crew.
silver foxI am still trying to find out if there is any book/s around about the escapades of the ASR lads and their boats.
Didn’t they also pick up downed German pilots?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
A book to try, The Sea Shall Not Have Them, a fictional story but based very much on the work of the ASR.
During WW2 the ASR service rescued 13,269 lives from the sea, of these 8,604 were downed air crew.
One of the biggest “fans”was Lieutenant-General Ira C Eaker (Commander of 8th US Air Force in Britain)
His comment was that the ASR were a major part of keeping up the morale of US aircrews who knew that those boats were out there attempting to rescue all and any downed aircrews, before the Americans had a rescue service in place the ASR had already picked up 600 US Air Force crew.
silver foxJohn Green
I must be getting mellow in my old age, can’t really argue with most of your comments, in fact agree with much of what you say.
Ref, “banks and financial vultures”, you’re correct in saying that they have met a demand by shovelling money out with little regard, but I know one thing for certain, I am now retired but if I had produced accounts showing big or massive profits for years and of course pocketing the bonus.
Then suddenly coming up with “erhm” some of those deals haven’t worked out quite as expected, our profits aren’t quite as good as forecast, in fact we have just made a massive loss and need urgent funding to stay afloat.
I would have been explaining myself to the company directors (if I was lucky) or more likely filling in forms at the job centre, certainly I wouldn’t have been picking up a big bonus while blaming everyone else and passing the pain onto others.
As far as The Monarchy is concerned, I personally resent being anyone’s “subject” and don’t particularly have any great wish to continue this state.
However it is also fair to admit that the Monarchy is a neutral rallying point without political wrangles, an establishment that for all it’s faults still carries a message, not sure if it’s the right message, but must admit not keen on the alternatives.
silver foxJohn Green
I must be getting mellow in my old age, can’t really argue with most of your comments, in fact agree with much of what you say.
Ref, “banks and financial vultures”, you’re correct in saying that they have met a demand by shovelling money out with little regard, but I know one thing for certain, I am now retired but if I had produced accounts showing big or massive profits for years and of course pocketing the bonus.
Then suddenly coming up with “erhm” some of those deals haven’t worked out quite as expected, our profits aren’t quite as good as forecast, in fact we have just made a massive loss and need urgent funding to stay afloat.
I would have been explaining myself to the company directors (if I was lucky) or more likely filling in forms at the job centre, certainly I wouldn’t have been picking up a big bonus while blaming everyone else and passing the pain onto others.
As far as The Monarchy is concerned, I personally resent being anyone’s “subject” and don’t particularly have any great wish to continue this state.
However it is also fair to admit that the Monarchy is a neutral rallying point without political wrangles, an establishment that for all it’s faults still carries a message, not sure if it’s the right message, but must admit not keen on the alternatives.
silver foxRe 77
Silver Fox
Most of us live on Planet Earth. Yes, I’m always taking a ‘pop’ at lefties. It’s what they are there for – not for any other reason.
John Green
Actually I don’t regard myself as particularly left wing, but I loathe and detest the smug bunch we have at the moment, they are managing to create austerity for a lot of people yet still borrowing even more money.
Come on, the banks and financial vultures got us into this mess and they are still at it, the same speculative gambles, the massive bonus for abject failure, the response from the government is just to cut and cut expenditure with no thought for the result because they haven’t got a clue.
As for the monarchy, the Queen does a damn good job at what she does, but just how important is the job, do we need it, is it worthwhile?
Or is it the epitome of the archaic ruling class system, where those born to it keep it and the rest must be servile and know their place?
I do most certainly live on Planet Earth, and see around where I live the jobs that just aren’t getting done, I see the rest homes and nursing homes closing because they can no longer function, my own next door neighbour a guy who has always worked until he had a fairly major heart attack 6 months ago, he needs an urgent operation, he’s still waiting.
Yet at the same time we seem to be a haven for just about anybody who makes it onto our shores totally incapable of dealing with illegals in all forms, as previously mentioned dishing out money in foreign aid like confetti, still have politicians on the fiddle.
Welcome to Planet Earth UK.
silver foxRe 77
Silver Fox
Most of us live on Planet Earth. Yes, I’m always taking a ‘pop’ at lefties. It’s what they are there for – not for any other reason.
John Green
Actually I don’t regard myself as particularly left wing, but I loathe and detest the smug bunch we have at the moment, they are managing to create austerity for a lot of people yet still borrowing even more money.
Come on, the banks and financial vultures got us into this mess and they are still at it, the same speculative gambles, the massive bonus for abject failure, the response from the government is just to cut and cut expenditure with no thought for the result because they haven’t got a clue.
As for the monarchy, the Queen does a damn good job at what she does, but just how important is the job, do we need it, is it worthwhile?
Or is it the epitome of the archaic ruling class system, where those born to it keep it and the rest must be servile and know their place?
I do most certainly live on Planet Earth, and see around where I live the jobs that just aren’t getting done, I see the rest homes and nursing homes closing because they can no longer function, my own next door neighbour a guy who has always worked until he had a fairly major heart attack 6 months ago, he needs an urgent operation, he’s still waiting.
Yet at the same time we seem to be a haven for just about anybody who makes it onto our shores totally incapable of dealing with illegals in all forms, as previously mentioned dishing out money in foreign aid like confetti, still have politicians on the fiddle.
Welcome to Planet Earth UK.
silver foxRe 55
Paul 178
Yes, I am pretty broke thanks to Gordon and Ed. Balls and all the other useless lefties, so I’ll take up your offer with thanks. Moggy
You can have a pop at Gordon if you like, but Labour did nothing like the damage that Georgy Porgy and Camercon et al have achieved in no time flat.
Politics is somewhat off topic on this thread, you probably thought you could get away with a little left wing bashing unnoticed, you may be surprised to know that some would wish that the Queen had the power to follow the will of the people and deport the entire non-elected government.:p
silver foxRe 55
Paul 178
Yes, I am pretty broke thanks to Gordon and Ed. Balls and all the other useless lefties, so I’ll take up your offer with thanks. Moggy
You can have a pop at Gordon if you like, but Labour did nothing like the damage that Georgy Porgy and Camercon et al have achieved in no time flat.
Politics is somewhat off topic on this thread, you probably thought you could get away with a little left wing bashing unnoticed, you may be surprised to know that some would wish that the Queen had the power to follow the will of the people and deport the entire non-elected government.:p
silver foxMany see the Royals as the epitome of heriditary privilege, the class system and all that is wrong with it.
On the other hand it is good to have a (albeit figurehead) head of state with continuity, apolitical rather than an elected or even non -elected President with some hand in running the country.
I am not a staunch royalist by any stretch, but if the current set up returns value for money let it continue.
silver foxMany see the Royals as the epitome of heriditary privilege, the class system and all that is wrong with it.
On the other hand it is good to have a (albeit figurehead) head of state with continuity, apolitical rather than an elected or even non -elected President with some hand in running the country.
I am not a staunch royalist by any stretch, but if the current set up returns value for money let it continue.
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